Ridged reflector having optically transmissive properties for an optical display device

An optical display device comprising:

• an optical cell having a cell front with at least one cell region being capable of an optically transmissive mode and an optically nontransmissive mode with reference to the cell front, the optical cell containing an optically active material responsive to an applied electrical field such that optical properties of the material are controllably changeable;
• a ridged reflector including a ridged surface optically coupled to the optical cell and including an opposite surface opposite the ridged surface, the ridged surface comprising a series of ridges, each of said ridges having a first face and a second face;
• the first face oriented to reflect light obliquely intercepting the first face, the second face oriented to permit optical communication between the optical cell and the opposite surface;
• the ridged reflector and the cell optically cooperating such that light entering a display within a nonglancing incident angle range is emitted from the display at an exiting angle range distinct in angular magnitude from the incident angle range and within a preferential viewing cone, the incident angle range and the exiting angle range measured relative to a normal axis orthogonally extending from a viewing plane substantially parallel to the cell front.

An optical display device comprising:

• an optical cell having a cell front with at least one cell region being capable of an optically transmissive mode and an optically nontransmissive node with reference to the cell front, the optical cell containing an optically active material responsive to an applied electrical field such that optical properties of the material are controllably changeable;
• a ridged reflector optically coupled to the optical cell;
• the ridged reflector including an optically transmissive layer and a reflective layer, said ridged reflector having a ridged surface facing the optical cell and an opposite surface opposite the ridged surface, the ridged surface including a series of ridges;
• each of said ridges having a first face and a second face;
• the reflective layer generally overlying the first face of each of said ridges, the second face being light-transmissive and substantially free of the reflective layer, the second face of each of ridges being in optical communication with the opposite surface.